Kedah police have crippled seven online scam call centre syndicates between January and October, arresting 87 suspects and seizing items worth an estimated RM300,000.
ALOR SETAR: Kedah police have crippled seven online scam syndicates operating through call centres between January and October, arresting 87 suspects.
Kedah Police Chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the arrests involved 27 Malaysians, 33 Pakistanis, 15 Chinese nationals, eight Indians and four Bangladeshis, comprising 75 men and 12 women.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects used various tactics and modus operandi, including communication facilities and technology, to deceive victims for illicit financial gain.
“Their modus operandi included the misuse of financial transactions in the banking sector, offers of non-existent lottery numbers, love scams, fake part-time job offers and telecommunications scams involving individuals impersonating enforcement officers,” he said at a press conference here today.
He said interrogations revealed that the suspects targeted victims both locally and overseas, including in Thailand, Japan, China, Australia, India and Bangladesh.
“Police seized various items used in the activities, including mobile phones, computers, modems, prepaid SIM cards and enforcement agency uniforms, with the total value estimated at RM300,000.
“These scams involve extensive networks and large-scale operations. Recent trends show that syndicates are choosing hotels or abandoned resorts as locations for their call centres because they offer more privacy, ample space and easier security control,” he said, adding that all those arrested have been charged in court with various offences under the law, including Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Adzli also appealed to the public, particularly landlords, to report to the police any cases of their rented properties being used as bases for online scam operations.
In a related case, he said three Pakistani men were detained for allegedly operating an online gambling business from a call centre at a shoplot in Sungai Petani at 12.25 am on Monday.
“The three suspects, aged between 21 and 23, were in a room equipped with computers and mobile phones when police raided the premises. The syndicate had been operating for three months and paid them RM3,600 monthly to promote and manage its gambling activities.
“The syndicate operated through the website evobet33.com and made RM193,675 in profits. It targeted gamblers in Nepal, where gambling is prohibited, with such offers attracting considerable interest,” he said.
The suspects have been remanded until Nov 15, starting from Nov 2, while the case is being investigated under several laws, including the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Penal Code and the Electricity Supply Act 1990.
